Sugar-Responsive Enzyme–Polyphenol ‘Tooth Nanoarmor’ for Long-Lasting Caries Prevention via Glucose Depletion and Biofilm Suppression

High sugar intake in modern dietary patterns heightens the risk of dental caries, yet current preventives neither address dietary sugars nor effectively inhibit cariogenic biofilms. Herein, we introduce a fully biomass-derived enzyme-polyphenol 'tooth nanoarmor' that self-assembles from glucose oxidase (GOx) and ellagic acid, a natural phenolic molecule found in pomegranate peels and tree bark. Noncovalent interactions mediate the self-assembly, yielding a porous supramolecular phenolic framework, with nanochannels exhibiting remarkable bioadhesion and biostability. Adhering to tooth enamel, the 'tooth nanoarmor' continuously depletes glucose and generates bactericidal H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The 'tooth nanoarmor' reduces bacterial viability by 59% and exopolysaccharide accumulation by 83% <i>in vitro</i>. It also exhibits a long-lasting preventive effect manifested by a 94% reduction in Keyes score and a 47% increase in dentin mineral density <i>in vivo</i>. Our findings highlight an effective biohybrid 'tooth nanoarmor' based on the natural self-assembly of proteins and polyphenols for long-lasting prevention of dental caries.

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Publication Details

Journal
Nano Letters
Published
2026-02-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c05438
Primary Topic
Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
Type
article
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article

Sugar-Responsive Enzyme–Polyphenol ‘Tooth Nanoarmor’ for Long-Lasting Caries Prevention via Glucose Depletion and Biofilm Suppression

Shijia Tang, Chen Mei, Ruiyang Ren, Jie Fang et al.
Nano Letters
Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
article

Sugar-Responsive Enzyme–Polyphenol ‘Tooth Nanoarmor’ for Long-Lasting Caries Prevention via Glucose Depletion and Biofilm Suppression

Shijia Tang, Chen Mei, Ruiyang Ren, Jie Fang, Qiuping Xie, Junling Guo, Zhihe Zhao, Xinxuan Zhou, Mingyao Wang, Bo Zhang, Gonghua Hong
article en

Abstract

High sugar intake in modern dietary patterns heightens the risk of dental caries, yet current preventives neither address dietary sugars nor effectively inhibit cariogenic biofilms. Herein, we introduce a fully biomass-derived enzyme-polyphenol 'tooth nanoarmor' that self-assembles from glucose oxidase (GOx) and ellagic acid, a natural phenolic molecule found in pomegranate peels and tree bark. Noncovalent interactions mediate the self-assembly, yielding a porous supramolecular phenolic framework, with nanochannels exhibiting remarkable bioadhesion and biostability. Adhering to tooth enamel, the 'tooth nanoarmor' continuously depletes glucose and generates bactericidal H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. The 'tooth nanoarmor' reduces bacterial viability by 59% and exopolysaccharide accumulation by 83% <i>in vitro</i>. It also exhibits a long-lasting preventive effect manifested by a 94% reduction in Keyes score and a 47% increase in dentin mineral density <i>in vivo</i>. Our findings highlight an effective biohybrid 'tooth nanoarmor' based on the natural self-assembly of proteins and polyphenols for long-lasting prevention of dental caries.

Nano LettersVol. 26(5)
Sichuan University (CN), National Clinical Research (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
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